Associated Press: Military official compares biblical references to 'In God We Trust' on currency

While the military has a strict ban on proselytizing in Middle East war
zones, Air Force Maj. John Redfield told the Associated Press he
doesn't believe Trijicon's scopes violate that ban because troops are
not handing out the weapons.

"This situation is not unlike the situation with U.S. currency," he
said. "Are we going to stop using money because the bills have 'In God
We Trust' on them? As long as the sights meet the combat needs of
troops, they'll continue to be used." (More)

Sasser defended the Trijicon's right as a private company to append biblical references to serial numbers on the scopes, saying he thinks "it would be discrimination to cancel their contract just because of that."

He went on to defend the actual Bible verses in question. "This scope they're imprinted on is a light amplification scope," Sasser said. "If you look at all those biblical references they always have to do with amplifying light. This is no different than any other play on words."

Detroit News: Levin against references on government property

The Detroit News reached out to Sen. Carl Levin, D-Detroit, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

While Levin said he's waiting for the Defense Department to review the
issue, spokeswoman Kathleen Long told the newspaper Levin "believes it
is inappropriate to incorporate references to specific religions on
government property." (More)

MSNBC: Maddow calls Trijicon execs 'endangering-the-troops idiots'

MSNBC pundit Rachel Maddow took Trijicon to task for the biblical references, charging they provide evidence to extremists "for their eternal claim that our military is fighting a Christian, religious war against Muslims."

While Tom Munson, Trijicon's director of sales and marketing, said those raising the objections aren't Christian, Maddow countered that perhaps they "aren't interested in recruiting for al-Qaida" and went on to call company executives "self-centered, self-righteous, endangering-the-troops idiots."

Michigan Messenger: President of Interfaith Alliance says Trijicon should be ashamed of its actions

Ed Brayton of the Michigan Messenger published a press-release response from Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance, who said Trijicon's actions to do not represent Christianity.

“Obviously, Trijicon, the defense contractor, knew they were doing something wrong and trying to get away with it or they would not have encoded messages that, when used appropriately, need no disguise. The company should be ashamed of its actions, which do no favor either to the United States military or to Christianity; just the opposite. Messages of life and peace should not be prostituted by placing their imprint on instruments designed for death and war." (More)

BBC: Muslim U.S. Army infantryman complained about markings

The
BBC reports that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the group
who first complained of the inscriptions, received a letter on Jan. 14
"purportedly from a Muslim US Army infantryman" who complained about
the markings.

"Many soldiers know of them and are very confused as to why they are there and what it is supposed to mean," said the email.

"Everyone
is worried that if they were captured in combat that the enemy would
use the Bible quotes against them in captivity or some other form of
propaganda." (More)